A PUPIL aged 10 has been arrested on suspicion of supplying potentially lethal Class A drugs to pupils at his junior school.

The boy, who cannot be named, was detained by teachers at Chatham’s Luton Junior School after parents saw him handing over tablets to other pupils.

It is understood he had given two pupils a tablet each before teachers swiftly intervened last Friday afternoon.

None of the youngsters swallowed any of the drugs and the police were called immediately by staff at the school, which has 398 pupils.

The drugs are categorised in the Class A range, meaning they are some of the most serious and harmful drugs around.

Wendy Hope, whose 11-year-old son was handed a tablet, said: “My son didn’t know what this tablet was, and I’m just pleased the school responded as quickly as it did and in the way that it did. The boy told my son he had brought the tablets in to hand around.

“It’s a terrible thing to happen, but I have to praise the school for they way it has handled the situation. I’m just really happy that none of the children actually took any of the drugs.”

PC Rob Jackson, ward constable for Luton and Wayfield, said incidents of this nature were incredibly rare. He heaped praise on the school for its rapid response.

He said: “I can confirm that we have arrested a 10-year-old year-old boy from Luton Junior School on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs.

I would like to praise school staff, who have acted in a professional and responsible way by contacting the police immediately. This matter is now being investigated.”

Head teacher Sue Russell said: “Luton Junior School, like all Medway schools, does not tolerate drugs. The school has a comprehensive drugs education policy and children are regularly reminded of the dangers of drugs.

“We acted promptly to call the police when the drugs were reported by parents and the substance has now been identified as a medical drug.”

A spokesman for the Medway local education authority said: “We are very concerned to hear that a pupil has been arrested for a drugs-related incident.

“Medway Council and its schools do not tolerate drugs and we’re working closely with the police and the school in regard to this matter.”